Stepladder



Feb. 26, 1935. J. w. PEAsE STEPLADDER Filed sept. 8, 195s L; /N VENTO/e Patented Feb. 26, 1935 iB. Pease Company, `tion uffNew Rochester; N. Y., va corporay Application September 8, v1933, Serial No. .688,631-V 4 claims. (o1. 228-17) vMy present invention relates to ladders fand more particularly to folding stepladders, and it has for itsobject to provide an improved ladder of this type that will be simple, light and capable .5 of being manufacturedat lowcost. The `improvements aredirec-ted -in part toward providing such a ladder with a firm and relatively spacious platform to afford standing room for working thereon at the greaterfheights; toward means for locking the ladder inextended'pos'timn toward simplifying and combining the platform, bracing, pail supporting and latching features, and toward providing a brace for the legs of the user when standing on the platform.

To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of this specication.

In the drawing: Y

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a stepladder `in extended position constructed in accordance with y and illustrating one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the ladder in folded position, the lower portion thereof being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a top plan'view with a portion of the pail support broken away;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the top tread, platform and latch mechanism, taken vertically, on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front View of the same parts.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the ladder, as to its major elements, is the conventional stepladder comprisinga ladder element 1 having treads 2= and 3 surmounted by a cap piece 4 and a supporting element or leg 5 that spreads to sustaining position, as in Fig. l, or folds against the ladder element, as in Fig. 2. It is pivoted at 6 to bracket plates 7 at the two sides of the cap piece 4 by means of which the latter is secured to the ladder element at 8. Y

Pivoted between the leg element 5 at 9 is a platform frame 10, the rear portion of which is extended at'11 when the device is in operative position to provide a pail support at the rear for a well known purpose. The forward or inner end of the frame is connected by links 12 pivoted to it at 13 and to a transverse rod 14 below the top tread 3 to the side rails of the ladder element to constitute a folding brace that holds the ladder elements relativelyrigid `inuse and .folds in theV i' '1 manner shown in Fig. '.2 when they lare folded. Y This platform frame 'isprovided between the ele'- ments with a platform 15 `which .extends in conf tinuation of the top tread 3 in conjunction with which it constitutes a, further enlarged platform proyidingample standingfroom for the feet of the user. This relationship `isnrigidly maintained by latehing arrangements, :as follows: i

. Below the pivot rod 14 and parallelthereto there extends betweenvztheladder rails 11 a .similar rod 16, upon whichl .is Vpivoted at each side .a latch element 17 having an upwardly extending latch arm 18 that abuts in radial alinement a flat corner face V19 oif the platform frame 10. A stop arm 20 on each latch element is provided with a laterally turned lug 21 which engages the adjacent rail 1 to determine this position. The latch` arms 18 are connected for joint movement by a bar 22 and a spring 23 coiled about the pivot rod 16 has one arm engaging this bar and its other arm reacting againstthe pivot rod 14 so thatthe spring tends to hold the latches normally in engaging position. The pivotal centers 9 and 16 are such, with relation to the links l2, that as the ladder is unfolded and the platform brace extended, the frame 10 will displace the latches and snap into engaging position above and behind them. The platform is thus maintained with great rigidity and safety to the occupant, the

stops 21 preventing the latches from yielding and y the load being borne by the pivot rod 16 on a radial line through the latch arms 18. The latches areV released by simply reaching the fingers beneath the tread 1 and drawing forward the latch bar 22 to carry-the latches out of the path of the frame. The combination tread and platform 3-15 is preferably at such a distance from the cap piece 4 that the calves of the legs of a standing occupant, are in the region of the cap piece. The middle thereof, in the further practice of my invention, is cut away, as indicated at 24 in Fig. 3, in a manner providing abrupt lateral shoulders 25 approximately centrally above the platform,

whereby the said occupant may brace his legs laterally against these rigid parts and balance himself with greater ease. Additionally, particularly with a short two-tread pantry ladder, such as that illustrated, this cutaway portion permits the platform to act as a chair seat, of which the cap piece constitutes the back. A further advantage is that the greatly reduced width of the cap piece 4 at the center furnishes a convenient handle which maybe grasped readily with the hand in carrying the ladder about.

2 Y Y v1,992,391

I claim as my invention: l. In a stepladder, the combination with a ladderrelement having treads and a supporting element hinged thereto, of a platform pivoted upon and foldable with the supporting element but adapted when extended to constitute astandx Ving surface in continuation with the top tread of the ladder element, and a'flat cap piece board on the latter less than Vknee high above said top Atread cut away at its middle on the front or tread side to form abrupt lateral shoulders ap-r proximately centrally above the combined plat? form and constituting lateral leg braces for the occupant of the latter. v

2. In a stepladder, the combination with a ladder element having a cap board and treads and a supporting element hinged thereto, of a platform pivoted upon and foldablewith the supporting tion.

Y V3. In a ,stepiadden the Combination vwith aladder element having a cap board and treads and av supporting elementhinged thereto, of a platform pivoted uponand Vfoldable with the supporting element but adapted when extended to constitute a standing surface directly beneath the cap board Vand also a brace between the folding parts in continuation with the top tread of the ladder element, links pivoted to the latter and to the platform constituting a spreading brace between the elements, and a releasable latch on the ladder element cooperating directly with the free edge of the platform to lock it in such extended position. i

4. In a 'stepladden the` combination with a ladder element having treads and a supporting element hinged thereto, of a platform pivoted upon and foldable with thesupp'orting element but adapted when extended to constitute a standing surface in'continuation with the top tread ofthe ladder element, links pivoted to the latter and to the platform constituting a spreading brace between the elements including Ya rod extending between the side rails of the ladder element beneath said top tread providing one pivot `for the links, a second rod adjacent to the first also extending between the side rails of the ladder element, latches pivoted on these'cond rod to 

